The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-17


vite and the Vishnuite alone wear the
dhoti kind of dress, being equal in all
respects, both having sprung from
the face of Brums the creator. There
is also another sect of Brahmins
called Rangi, who live on the Cana
reese coast, and are declared by both
Tamil aud Telugu to be lamentably
superstitious and ignorant. 1t is
among the Canarese Brahmins that
the English have made less Roadway
than among any other Brahmins.
Strange as it may appear to those
who have accustomed themselves to
the belief that polygamy is rife in the
East, the Brabmins do not approve
Of it. 1t is only permitted in these
cases: Ii woman is barren for the
space Of ten years; if she only pro-
duces female children, and if, after
considerable trial, she can not agree
with her husband. 10 my frequent
con yersstions with the Brahmin
clerks attached to the service, who
may be said to represent advanced
YOUNG India" | have been repeated
ly told that the moral and intel
lectual progress of the Brahmin is
retarded by the silly opposition of
the women, and was led by AN ex-
ultant schoolmaster to his school
house, where he showed me a little
SILVA girl-"the first Brahmin girl"
said he, "in that district who had
ever attended school, and probably
in all India" He told me that only
after repeated entreaty did he
succeed in gaining her as a pupil,
and that the neighbors regard
ed this innovation with eyes
apprehensive of trouble, for the high
born maiden was being taught the
language of the hated conqueror. He
further told me that with the Rangi
women he had the greatest trouble
so fearful were they of losing caste
that they would not embrace or per-
init their children who we're attend
ing school to enter the house until
they had bathed, through the fear
that they had sat near child of the
Sudra caste.
1t will be seen from what | have
said that the position Of the Brah-
min woman in south India is enviable
60 that of her sister in north India.
Though she is not regarded as an
equal, she is little better than a
chattel. The average Hindoo mind
cannot receive woman as human
being possessed of soul and sensibil-
ity. Though she influences the as
piraticns of her children and shapes
their destinies, yet she is withheld
from sharing their triumphs or
their pleasures. Feelings akin to
pity arise in the English breast,
or rather indignation, as when pass
ing through the native villages he
) sees engaged in severe toll the wom-
en-, while the men, squatting on the
ground before their houses, enjoy
the cool Of eventide, the songs of the
wandering minstrel or the latest
marvel from the lips of the profess
I sional story teller. 1t is reported
that the most cruel in their treat
ment of the women are the Iengars,
who claim for themselves more than
ordinary attributes. The European
is to him no less an object of con-
tempt than a pariah, and when an
Iengar talks with Griffin Gas a new
ly arrived Englishman in India is
called) he does not fail to show his
disdain, for fastidious Brahmins,
when they speak to a Sudra or a
European, are accustomed to place
their hand on their stomach and
catching the holy thread, present the
back OF the hand to the person ad-
dressed, and at the close of the con
versation, by rotary motion, they
display the palm. To those who
choose to regard this as an insult ii
is such.
The BraEmin is bundle of ex-
traordinary contradictions. Witness
him buying load of wood from q
pariah. He halls the unfortunate
creature, who, setting down his bur-
den, edges away while the Brahmin
examines it. The Brahmin then
moves away. The pariah approaches
the wood, and with his hand before
his mouth, lest his breath touch the
person of the august purchaser, con-
cludes the sale. No pariah uses the
public highway made by British
money and upder Britt h supervision
while noble Brahmin passes
Brahmin youths are beset from theiI
birth by tedious restrictions; the
dignity of their race and their OWL
dignity is theme which never tires
with their parents. Perhaps theil
only luxury is that of taking snuff
and in this even the law interferec
and lays down a certain age wher
they may begin; to a bachelor this
pleasure is prohibited; snuff taking
can only begin with matrimony.